Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
June 4, 2016

“I have to confess to you that that one hit me for six,” Stuart told a group of media managers and senior journalists this afternoon at his official residence.

The Barbadian leader was a bit hesitant to delve into the topic saying, “I have to be very careful from where I sit as Prime Minister commenting on these things because I do not want it said that as Prime Minister I am trying to interfere with the administration of justice or the independence of the judiciary.”

However, he acknowledged that in recent times several people who were accused of murder had been released on bail.

Stuart did not refer to any specific cases. However, among the most high profile cases in which bail was recently granted were those of Sean Watson, who is charged with the 2012 murder of his estranged wife Nicole Harrison-Watson and Andre “Lord Evil” Jackman, who was officially released from lawful custody last month.

“[It is] something I never thought that I would have seen in Barbados, where I see murder accused getting bail,” the Prime Minister said, revealing that he had been having “quiet” conversations with Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite, “to see whether there is anything worth doing, [especially] in a small highly personalized society like Barbados.

“There is something blood cuddling about somebody slaughtering somebody in our community and just a few months later you go into the supermarket and run into him. So, that’s a challenge we have to face . . . and in many cases has led to despair,” he acknowledged.

The Prime Minister, who is an attorney by profession, suggested that one of the reasons for this recent occurrence was the amount of time it took to get people through the legal system.

He revealed that the backlog was so substantial that Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson has requested permission to appointment three temporary judges.

“He [the Chief Justice] sent a list of about 161 persons on remand at Dodds awaiting trial and he did not think that that backlog could be handled by the present complement of judges.

“He [the Chief Justice] was careful to remind me that he can only account for the ones who are at Dodds [but] there are many other people on bail awaiting trial as well and that this is an issue that we have to deal with,” Stuart explained.

However, the Prime Minister said the situation was such that Government may now need to make some amendments to the legislation to institute a regime of plea bargaining in order to clear the backlog.

“One of the things that holds this society together is the belief that people, if wronged, whether civilly or criminally that they can get redress somewhere and the day that faith is lost in that whole system we are into trouble and we can’t afford that,” the Prime Minister stressed.

Sounds like poltricking at its best his government is responsible for slow joke garbage justice system but now pretending he is concern about accused getting out on bail when charge with murder sounds like a bunch of b/s.

Sounds like poltricking at its best his government is responsible for slow joke garbage justice system but now pretending he is concern about accused getting out on bail when charge with murder sounds like a bunch of b/s.

@Rawle, how is it that the administration of Freundel Stuart responsible for the “slow joke garbage system”. The system was so for eaons even when the BLP was in power and before them the DLP and so on and so on. You stop your politricking!

@Rawle, how is it that the administration of Freundel Stuart responsible for the “slow joke garbage system”. The system was so for eaons even when the BLP was in power and before them the DLP and so on and so on. You stop your politricking!

I just read in the paper that PM say he dint no that murder accuse were not kept at dodds so that mean that he don’t read news papers or watch cbc or his people report to him or he were out of bim for a very long time but i for one don’t beleve him thsts my apinion and no one can’t get me beleve anyone who say dum in no wa i no my people over in away no that murder acvuse nuff home so long u check d media u gaw no

I just read in the paper that PM say he dint no that murder accuse were not kept at dodds so that mean that he don’t read news papers or watch cbc or his people report to him or he were out of bim for a very long time but i for one don’t beleve him thsts my apinion and no one can’t get me beleve anyone who say dum in no wa i no my people over in away no that murder acvuse nuff home so long u check d media u gaw no

How is it that everything a man does or says in this country is wrong ? i am appalled at my country man , even when his point is well made and articulated you find it fit to curse and criticise him . the system is bad and he is making an effort to address it but yet you find time to curse him . for once stop seeing the man you love to hate and open your eyes to the message

How is it that everything a man does or says in this country is wrong ? i am appalled at my country man , even when his point is well made and articulated you find it fit to curse and criticise him . the system is bad and he is making an effort to address it but yet you find time to curse him . for once stop seeing the man you love to hate and open your eyes to the message

Perry I share your views. We no longer engage in objectivity, but prefer to degenerate into the gutter.
As an intelligent people we are supposed to discuss issues not persons. Let’s raise the level of discussion.
All of us do not have the same level of intelligence, but could learn from each other.
I have learned over the years to listen to the message instead of concentrating on the messenger. It has stood me in good stead.

Perry I share your views. We no longer engage in objectivity, but prefer to degenerate into the gutter.
As an intelligent people we are supposed to discuss issues not persons. Let’s raise the level of discussion.
All of us do not have the same level of intelligence, but could learn from each other.
I have learned over the years to listen to the message instead of concentrating on the messenger. It has stood me in good stead.

Innocent until proven guilty? If that individual makes the requirements for bail then he/she should be provided. On remand for 6 years to either get off or be convicted. You should be concentrating on expediting the justice system and ensure cases are heard swift and fast.

Innocent until proven guilty? If that individual makes the requirements for bail then he/she should be provided. On remand for 6 years to either get off or be convicted. You should be concentrating on expediting the justice system and ensure cases are heard swift and fast.

Perry if certain persons here don’t cuss the man they will have nothing to write about ….ask half of them what businesses they own or operate they can’t tell you ask them what million dollar decisions they have made for that past week they can’t say but all they are known for is cussing the man

Perry if certain persons here don’t cuss the man they will have nothing to write about ….ask half of them what businesses they own or operate they can’t tell you ask them what million dollar decisions they have made for that past week they can’t say but all they are known for is cussing the man

Lennox Hewitt, do me a favour. Learn to spell, use punctuation, capital letters and paragraphs if you want us to read your comments in the future. I believe that I would have a serious problem with you during a face to face conversation. You may begin your homework by first purchasing a “First Aid in English” – an old book but trusted and true.

Maxjustina and Lisa, what is wrong with Lennox Hewitt adding some Bajan flavour to his postings?

One can tell when something is done intentionally or when it is done in jest.

From reading Mr.Hewitt’s post, I get the feeling he is pretty smart and is using the lingo to get his message across, not only to you uppity types who prefer the Queen’s language in your everyday ramblings but also to those in the social media environment who sees nothing wrong with using lingo.

Lennox Hewitt, do me a favour. Learn to spell, use punctuation, capital letters and paragraphs if you want us to read your comments in the future. I believe that I would have a serious problem with you during a face to face conversation. You may begin your homework by first purchasing a “First Aid in English” – an old book but trusted and true.

Maxjustina and Lisa, what is wrong with Lennox Hewitt adding some Bajan flavour to his postings?
One can tell when something is done intentionally or when it is done in jest.
From reading Mr.Hewitt’s post, I get the feeling he is pretty smart and is using the lingo to get his message across, not only to you uppity types who prefer the Queen’s language in your everyday ramblings but also to those in the social media environment who sees nothing wrong with using lingo.
Just my opinion.

You don’t why ? Place the blame on some of these lawyers. I wonder how some of them sleep at night. They are more problematic than some of the dam criminals.
They up hold the criminals. They would have to know that these demons commit crime, but would go into court and argue, as though these demon beast are Holy Holy Holy. All because of a few raw dollars and a reputation that they are the best or good lawyers. How can anything bad, be good ?
This I would like to know…Believe it or not !

You don’t why ? Place the blame on some of these lawyers. I wonder how some of them sleep at night. They are more problematic than some of the dam criminals.
They up hold the criminals. They would have to know that these demons commit crime, but would go into court and argue, as though these demon beast are Holy Holy Holy. All because of a few raw dollars and a reputation that they are the best or good lawyers. How can anything bad, be good ?
This I would like to know…Believe it or not !

Having confessed that he has been ‘hit for six’ by the fact that those who have been charged with committing murder are getting bail, the PM of Barbados should now spin like a fast bowler to have murder and other cases heard by the courts in a timely fashion. This will, of course, require the appointment of more judges and court staff, but before anyone poses the question, “Where is the money to come from?” I would say for starters that some money could be raised from the funds that have been allocated to the 50th Independence celebrations, and some from increased fines imposed on law breakers who do not need to be incarcerated for minor offences. For example, motoring offences, non-payment of child support, low level theft, etc.

Until the judicial system in Barbados has been overhauled, which includes judges being held responsible for missing court dates for non-serious personal reasons, many more charged with murder (but not yet convicted) individuals will be able to run up and down Barbados – innocent until proven guilty – with all of us hoping and praying that none will not go on to commit further murders whilst on bail.

Having confessed that he has been ‘hit for six’ by the fact that those who have been charged with committing murder are getting bail, the PM of Barbados should now spin like a fast bowler to have murder and other cases heard by the courts in a timely fashion. This will, of course, require the appointment of more judges and court staff, but before anyone poses the question, “Where is the money to come from?” I would say for starters that some money could be raised from the funds that have been allocated to the 50th Independence celebrations, and some from increased fines imposed on law breakers who do not need to be incarcerated for minor offences. For example, motoring offences, non-payment of child support, low level theft, etc.
Until the judicial system in Barbados has been overhauled, which includes judges being held responsible for missing court dates for non-serious personal reasons, many more charged with murder (but not yet convicted) individuals will be able to run up and down Barbados – innocent until proven guilty – with all of us hoping and praying that none will not go on to commit further murders whilst on bail.